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The January transfer window in the 2021-22 Premier League came to an end a few days ago. English clubs were the biggest spenders, with the likes of Liverpool, Newcastle, Everton and Aston Villa spending over €30 million.
Although Dusan Vlahovic and Ferran Torres were the only signings over €50 million in the transfer window, Premier League sides made most of the other most expensive purchases. Newcastle’s new owners splashed the cash on players such as Bruno Guimaraes, Kieran Trippier and Chris Wood.
Premier League clubs contributed to a busy January 2022 transfer window
Compared to last season’s winter window, a lot more money was spent this time around. The most expensive buy in January 2021 was Juventus’s €23.3 million acquisition of Nico Ravella. As many as eight players were bought for a higher fee this January.
Five of the eight most expensive signings (over €23.3 million) were made by Premier League clubs. However, not all these signings were excellent in terms of value for money. On that note, here's a look at the five best Premier League signings in the 2022 January transfer window:
#5 Wout Weghorst (€14 million to Burnley)
Newcastle’s €30 million signing of Chris Wood was one of the most expensive transfers of the window. The New Zealander had proven to be a great performer at Burnley, but he left for Newcastle. With the funds in hand, manager Sean Dyche was compelled to find a worthy replacement, and he went for Wout .
The Clarets replaced 6’ 3” Chris Wood with 6’ 5” Wout Weghorst, the most Burnley signing one could think of. The Dutch international has built a reputation of being a clinical finisher in the Bundesliga. The 29-year-old scored 70 goals in 144 games for Wolfsburg.
Weghorst has a much better goal-to-game ratio at Wolfsburg than what Wood had at Burnley. However, Weghorst has no experience of playing in the Premier League. The Dutchman cost less than half of what Burnley earned from Wood’s sale, making him a good purchase.
#4 Kieran Trippier (€15 million to Newcastle)
Kieran Trippier’s move to Newcastle sees him return to the Premier League after a two-and-a-half-year stint with Atletico Madrid. The right-back was the first signing made by the Public Investment Fund, kicking off a new era in the Tyneside club’s history.
Newcastle’s defence has left a lot to be desired, conceding more than two goals per game. Signing Kieran Trippier and Dan Burn, and Matt Targett on loan, should give Eddie Howe’s side a much-improved backline.
Trippier is 31, and has enough in the tank to perform at the highest level for a few more years. He was always a competent right-back during his days at Tottenham Hotspur. However, he has become more defensively astute under Diego Simeone, and returns to the Premier League as a La Liga winner.
#3 Lucas Digne (€30 million to Aston Villa)
Lucas Digne has been among the Premier League’s best left-backs recently. A consistent performer for most of his Everton career, Digne flattered to deceive this campaign. A move was imminent, and the Merseyside club couldn’t help but accept Aston Villa’s €30 million bid for the player.
Digne was a breath of fresh air when he arrived at Goodison Park. The left-back’s fine attacking displays helped him bag six goals and 20 assists in 127 appearances. He has already recorded his first Aston Villa assist during their trip to Everton.
The French defender joins an Aston Villa side that looks rejuvenated under Steven Gerrard. The West Midlands-based outfit are 11th in the standings, and should obtain a mid-table finish. Digne joins the likes of Philippe Coutinho, Robin Olsen (both loan) and Calum Chambers as new arrivals at Villa Park this winter.
#2 Bruno Guimaraes (€42.1 million to Newcastle)
Newcastle United spent around €100 million in January, paying about 40% of that to Lyon for the services of Bruno Guimaraes. Guimaraes spent two years in France, and was a regular started for Lyon since the start of last season.
The Brazilian midfielder had caught the eye of several clubs across Europe, including Premier League giants Arsenal. The fact that a relegation-threatened club managed to snap him up ahead of the Gunners shows that the Newcastle revolution is set to begin.
The 24-year-old is equally adept in playing as a defensive midfielder and central midfielder. Unlike most newcomers at St James' Park, Guimaraes seems one for the long- term. Geordies will hope he can become a club legend.
#1 Luis Diaz (€45 million to Liverpool)
Liverpool were one of the few Premier League giants to make a significant signing in January. With their €45 million acquisition of Luis Diaz, Jurgen Klopp will look to provide competition to the likes of Sadio Mane and Diogo Jota.
The Colombian international has gone from strength to strength in the last calendar year. He was the joint top scorer at Copa America 2021 with four goals. This season, the left winger has scored 14 goals and registered five assists in the Portuguese league.
Diaz fits into the Liverpool scheme of things like a charm. Like Salah, Mane and Jota, Diaz is also a goalscoring winger. Klopp has had immense success in turning promising gems into world-class players, and the 25-year-old is expected to tread along that route.
